NWSA increases electric cargo-handling at Tacoma Harbor

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has taken another step toward cleaner cargo operations with the delivery of a second battery-electric forklift at its East Blair One terminal in Tacoma Harbor. The equipment is part of an ongoing effort to shift terminal operations toward zero-emission technologies.

The new forklift is part of a broader electrification project funded through a $2.64 million award from the 2023-2025 Port Electrification Grant Program of the Washington State Department of Transportation. The funding supports the purchase of various zero-emission equipment, including a battery-electric 36,000-pound (16,329-kilogram) forklift, two battery-electric 8,000-pound (3,629-kilogram) forklifts, as well as the charging infrastructure needed to operate them.

By replacing extensively used diesel-powered forklifts with electric alternatives, the NWSA is further reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby improving air quality for workers and surrounding communities.

Along with advancing Washington State’s climate objectives, the initiative aligns with the NWSA’s long-term commitment to the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy to eliminate emissions from seaport-related activities in Seattle and Tacoma by 2050 or sooner.

_{Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance}